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Big global brands in the $1.2 trillion consumer-packaged-goods industry are facing a competitive wake-up call in some unlikely places: China, Indonesia, India, and Brazil. Executives of well-established companies in this space know that the alarm bell has been ringing for some time as they lose ground to smaller, more local brands — but responding effectively has proven difficult.
Emerging markets have been strongholds for big consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) brands like Colgate, Avon, Axe, and Olay, which are backed by large, incumbent companies. In China, Indonesia, and India, this market has been growing at about 9% per year over the past 10 years; Brazil has seen about 3% annual growth. But big “power brands” have been losing market share to smaller rivals. In China and Indonesia, their negative trajectory is getting worse. According to Accenture research, in the past 10 years, the top three big consumer goods brands have lost more than 5% of their share in three of those four markets. These are markets that, in addition to double digital CPG growth, have bourgeoning middle classes, fragmented mass media, and often have complex “last mile” delivery of products due to complex infrastructure. Plus, many aspiring consumers in these markets are often buying a brand for the first time, according to our research.
In these markets, small brands have power. Consider that in 2017, 75% of the top 3 brands in the categories and countries we considered were small, new, or local brands. Brands like Vini deodorant in India or Chando facial care in China have entered the top 10 of those markets within five years of launching. Large consumer brands need to better understand what’s behind this growth to more effectively compete.
Small consumer brands are better built to create hyper-targeted products and distribute them locally. Global supply chains, built to make and move large volumes of more broadly attractive products, are inflexible by comparison. Small companies are casting narrow research nets, and gaining real-time, direct insight into (and feedback from) niche consumer groups. They quickly use this unfiltered information to develop and refine hyper-relevant products. Big R&D processes, built to assess mass need, are cumbersome by comparison.
And smaller companies are using social media and consumer engagement on the ground to great effect. They don’t need the “stamp of quality” that comes with the backing of a long-established global company; consumers themselves are building brand trust in real time with their reviews, creating a new competitive arena in which smaller offerings can flourish through word of mouth.
Take Wardah, a small-but-growing women’s cosmetics brand in Indonesia. Wardah took hold by being better at finding a consumer segment, and at engaging with consumers within that segment. Wardah is not only meeting a need among Muslim women for make-up and skin care products that are tailored to the local consumer’s skin type, but these products also meet halal standards, which is an important factor for this consumer segment. Wardah communicates the unique positioning of its product through its packaging as well as directly at Islamic colleges and at traditional beauty stores. Beauty Advisors educate women on how to use Wardah’s products and explain how the product is formulated using halal methods, keeping in mind their religious values.
At its start, Wardah had far less to invest in marketing than its big-brand competition, so it took a direct and personal route. In the past five years, Wardah has more than doubled its market share in the personal care category in Indonesia. Large, global companies have long been aware of consumers’ desires for halal products; ignorance hasn’t been their stumbling block. The problem has been global brand-focused business models that don’t allow them to serve this consumer segment in ways that meet their needs.
To compete in this new environment, big brands need to become more pliable, and develop an ability to build more personal and trusting relationships with smaller groups of consumers. They need to be what we call “living businesses” — intelligent enterprises that use data to deeply understand, anticipate, and adapt to smaller segments of consumer needs, and to evolve as consumer needs evolve.
Our research and client work suggest three distinct ways in which large, long-established companies can better compete with small, highly focused brands.
1) Include smaller, local brands in your product mix and accept the increased complexity that comes with them.
Although large incumbents owe their scale to big brands, to win in the future they will need to build hybrid portfolios that include small, focused, local brands alongside their big global brands. Importantly, while these brands might remain smaller than their bigger siblings, current trends suggest that they will ultimately contribute significantly to a company’s overall growth. Companies need to be ready to embrace the operational complexity that comes with having wider, more diverse product offerings.
To support their newly complex portfolio, big incumbents need to put global assets at the service of small, local brands. Most big companies have worked hard to standardize business models and create simplified operating structures to leverage economies of scale across a wealth of ‘core’ assets i.e. product development, manufacturing expertise, distribution reach, consumer insights, talent and suppliers. One way to do this is through a modular approach—mixing and matching assets as needed to serve a new brand.
Examples of this strategy can be seen from Coca-Cola and Unilever – Coke for its Zico coconut water brand, sold in India, and Unilever for its Hijab Fresh moisturizer. When these products were launched, Unilever and Coca-Cola brought global distribution strength and R&D to these markets to launch these brands quickly, leveraging localized consumer insight. This kind of dexterity will be necessary to compete in the future.
2) Adjust expectations about brand lifecycles and failure.
“Build brand equity for the long term” has been a mantra for large global companies and rightly so. With huge up-front investments, these organizations have developed brands that have lasted decades and continue to be relevant. However, such an orientation also leads to extensive research, obsessive testing, long innovation cycles, and huge investments to build awareness and distribution. It leads to product launch processes that take 18 -24 months. And it breeds a culture of risk avoidance, to the extent that some big companies haven’t launched a new brand in years.
Contrast this with small, local companies that get to market faster, correct their mix as they get real consumer feedback, and invest in line with the revenues they generate. Patanjali, a local consumer goods company in India, offers an example. Patanjali’s Dant Kanti toothpaste brand held 1% of the market share across India in 2011, and grew to about 13% in 2017. This was in a category that has long been dominated by Colgate, which had carefully built a dominant position over the last 80 years with few challengers. Yet Patanjali has made dramatic inroads in just five years, with very limited investment. Initially, Patanjali’s marketing efforts consisted of participating in Yoga camps, and it sold its products only through its own retail outlets. In doing so, it was also gaining timely, hyper-focused consumer feedback, which it used to shape its portfolio and grow its business.
To compete against small upstarts, big companies must accommodate a more experimental operation that tolerates more moving parts, and moves smaller brands out into the market more quickly. In doing so, brand failure rates will rise. They must also align their expectations for what small brands can deliver. Hyper-targeted, highly relevant brands could “peak” at just a few percentage points of market share. They can still be profitable, and they have to be willing to do so in a shorter bursts with more flexibility.
3) Put ideas at the center again.
Big brands need to get closer to local consumers and empower teams on the ground to generate new ideas. They can utilize their scale by leveraging their access to data in service of those ideas and facilitating rapid testing, just as they once built an advantage with global supply chains in service of getting big brands to consumers.
Sometimes this happens through M&A — we have seen a spate of examples where big companies acquire small companies, their brands, and their talent in recent years, such as Unilever acquiring Dollar Shave Club and J&J acquiring OGX. Acquiring small brands, however, is just one alternative for large companies. Encouraging a flow of new ideas internally through relevant external partnerships is still critical for these companies to succeed.
The good news for incumbent, global companies is that they can still flourish in a landscape that increasingly favors small, focused, local brands if they are willing to be nimble and engaged with their customers. The winners will be those that make those changes with speed and conviction.
The authors would like to thank Regina Maruca and Harini Mohan of Accenture Research for their contributions to this article.


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Road King with a ‘darker and bolder edge’ attitude
Harley’s first Milwaukee-Eight™ 107 (1,753cc) engine with all black finish
The guys over at Harley Davidson have released a special edition for the current Road King model. What they’ve basically done is took the standard (but already awesome) Road King and gave it more attitude, making it bolder with a darker edge and feel.
Some of the special features available in the special edition are ‘mini ape’ handlebars, new stretched saddlebags and a new set of forks and shock absorbers that Harley claims to further improve the Special Road King’s handling and ride comfort. Another special feature is the all-black engine finish to go with the edgy theme of the special. It’s actually Harley’s first Milwaukee-Eight™ 107 cubic inch (1,753cc) engine with the black colourway.
According to Harley’s Vice President of Styling and Design, Brad Richards, he stated that “By exchanging chrome surfaces for black and lowering the bike’s profile, we’ve moved the traditional Road King into a new space that’s very current in the custom bagger scene.”
There’s no news on when it will hit our shores but it will be available in four different colours; Vivid Black, Charcoal Denim, Hot Rod Red Flake Hard Candy Custom or Olive Gold. The one in photo is the stunning Olive Gold. It will be available in the UK at £19,995 or around RM111,191.
Stay tuned to Bikes Republic for more Harley updates.

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NEW YORK — Dollhouse is the latest fashion brand to jump into the bustling jewelry arena.
The new line of Dollhouse jewelry, produced under license by New York firm O.K. Originals, will bow at the WWDMAGIC show in February in time for summer and back-to-school selling.
The junior jewelry business is already crowded and includes brands such as Guess, Tommy Hilfiger and Nine & Co., as well as chains like Claire’s. But Dollhouse believes there is room for more.
"We are a lifestyle company and jewelry is very important for teens," said Eddie Ash, director of licensing. "It will fit in well with the hip, trendy looks that we offer."
Dollhouse jewelry features fashion-forward looks, such as silver necklaces with large heart and rose pendant necklaces, beaded bracelets, chandelier earrings and leather, studded cuffs. The line is being shown out of O.K.’s new showroom at 389 Fifth Avenue here.
Wholesale prices range from about $1.25 to $3.50. Peter Kaplan, O.K.’s vice president of sales, projected first-year volume of about $1 million. Dollhouse is the first license for the 22-year-old fashion jewelry company.
The jewelry is primarily produced overseas and targeted distribution includes the same stores where the apparel and other products are sold, in department stores and specialty chains, including Gadzooks and Rampage. Dollhouse’s sales now hover at about $70 million, and licenses account for about $20 million, Ash said.
The seven-year-old junior sportswear brand has been rapidly adding licensees in recent years, and now has six licenses, covering categories such as dresses, shoes and handbags.
Alberta Ferretti's "Rainbow Week" sweaters are back. The designer closed her #MFW show with a few day-of-the-week sweaters, which first debuted on the catwalk last January as part of the pre-fall 2017 collection. #wwdfashion (📷: @delphineachard)


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U.S. International Trade Commission Finds Domestic Solar Manufacturing Companies Harmed by Foreign Imports
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (“SEIA”), the industry’s leading trade association, the U.S. installed a record-breaking 14,762 megawatts of solar power in 2016, a 97 percent increase from 2015, and the price for solar photovoltaic systems fell nearly 20 percent in 2016. According to SEIA’s estimates, imposing the requested tariffs could destroy 88,000 U.S. jobs in installation, sales and construction in the solar industry in 2018, and the utility-scale solar market could see jobs shrink by 60 percent.
U.S. International Trade Commission Finds Domestic Solar Manufacturing Companies Harmed by Foreign Imports: Dykema
The ITC’s press release regarding the decision can be viewed here.
- New Law Proposed to Extend Liability for Environmental Crime in Waste Management
- UK Industrial Strategy
- Tenth Circuit Dismisses Litigation Over Federal Hydraulic Fracturing Rule
- Changing How Products Get From the Manufacturer to the Customer: Common Questions and Risks
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With the prawn season about to shift into high gear, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans has backed off on a plan to ban the process of tubbing, a long-held practice for those who harvest prawns for commercial sale.
The DFO plans provided for a significant pushback from the industry in March, with a petition released gaining wide attention to the concerns of those in the industry.
A statement this week from Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard, confirmed that at least for the time being harvesters will be allowed to freeze their catch, a process commonly known as “tubbing.”
“Our goal is, and always has been, to see our Pacific prawn fishery continue to thrive. Working in partnership with the Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association, we have agreed on a process that will allow harvesters to freeze their catch at sea this season, just as they’ve done for years. Size limits remain a critical part of a sustainable prawn fishery, and we will work with industry to develop viable, alternative practices for the long-term. But with the season fast approaching, it’s important that British Columbians understand they can, and should, continue to purchase delicious, frozen Pacific prawns,” Jordan noted.
The discussion over the process of tubbing, however does not seem to be over, with the announcement for 2021 an interim one, until further review of the topic moves forward.
“The Department looks forward to continued engagement with the Pacific prawn industry over the coming year on the development of different packaging practices or other measures that will help ensure the continued sustainable harvest of British Columbia prawns,” the DFO explained.


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Pro gamers join amateurs and fans on-stage throughout the show
SAN ANTONIO – Jan. 9 – Taking place. Jan 17 – 19, the PAX Arena at PAX South 2020 will mark the debut of “Liferun,” a brand-new custom game mode coming to Fortnite in partnership with the International Red Cross. PAX Arena will feature Overwatch League pros, fan-favorite streamers, and a pro-am against Texas’ own OWL team the Houston Outlaws.
Playable for the first time at PAX South, Fortnite’s brand-new Creative Mode game type, “Liferun,” turns players into International Red Cross heroes racing across the globe in four real-life missions to save lives instead of take them. FPS streaming sensation DrLupo joins ONE_shot_GURL and Lachlan to compete on-stage in the latest masterpiece by Team Evolve, creators of Zone Wars and the Creative Showdown. The event will stream live from the PAX Arena on Sunday, January 19 at 10 a.m. CST.
Overwatch fans will squad up with pros for the Houston Outlaws PAX Pro-Am on Saturday, January 18 from 2 – 6 p.m CST. Houston Outlaws stars like FaZe Clan alum Shane “Rawkus” Flaherty and main tank Austin “Muma” Wilmot join DPS sensations Jeffrey “blase” Tsang and Dante “Danteh” Cruz alongside coaches Harsha “Harsha” Bandi and Chris “Dream” Myrick” for an exciting PAX Pro-Am.
PAX Arena celebrates amateur esports through “Almost Pro,” a massive open culminating with an unforgettable multi-hour clash on-stage in the Finals. This year, 50 competitors will square off in Fortnite solos while fan-favorite casters “BalletW”, “MonsterDface”, and “Fickle_Platypus” call the action from the desk and on-stream. For the first time in PAX Arena history, U.S.-resident competitors as young as 13 can hop into the action for the Almost Pro qualifiers on Friday, January 17 at 11 a.m CST.
Back for its one-year anniversary, Stream Stars will pit YouTube and Mixer creators against each other for a winner-takes-all showdown in Brawlhalla, the arcade fighting sensation. Fan-favorite streamers like AbdallahSmash026, Dr. Kendo, and QueenEliminator will pick their favorite Legends and go head-to-head in a single-elimination tourney on Friday, Jan. 17 to crown the new Stream Stars champion.
“One of our goals with PAX is to turn the things you enjoy online into places you can actually go, and PAX Arena is a great example of that,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of PAX and Penny Arcade. “Being into esports means being a fan of camaraderie and competition, which makes them a perfect fit for the PAX community.”
PAX South 2020 will welcome tens of thousands of attendees to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from Jan. 17 – 19, 2020. Three-day badges are available now for $95, with single-day badges available for $45. For show updates and the full PAX Arena schedule, check out the official website of PAX South and follow PAX on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
PAX, or Penny Arcade Expo, is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world’s leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010, and a third in San Antonio in 2015, making it the three largest gaming shows in North America. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged, its first tabletop focused show, held in Philadelphia.
ReedPOP is a boutique group within Reed Exhibitions – the world’s leading event organizer. Launched in 2006, the group has become the number one producer of pop culture events across the globe as well as a full-service digital content provider and media company. Delivering once-in-a-lifetime fan experiences curated specifically for localized audiences, ReedPOP currently features events in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, India, Africa, and Australia, including: New York Comic Con (NYCC), Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2), PAX West, East, South, and Australia, Emerald City Comic Con (ECCC), MCM Comic Con, BookCon, Oz Comic Con, EGX, Comic Con India, Comic Con Paris, Comic Con Seoul, Comic Con Africa, Star Wars Celebration, and ComplexCon. ReedPOP also runs and operates Gamer Network and its portfolio of leading gaming websites including Eurogamer, RockPaperShotgun, and GamesIndustry.biz. The staff at ReedPOP are a fan-based, globally focused group of professionals that are uniquely qualified to build and serve the communities with whom they share a common passion.
About Penny Arcade
Penny Arcade has been the world’s most popular webcomic for over 20 years, with over 3.5 million readers. Started in 1998 in the living room of Mike Krahulik & Jerry Holkins, it has grown into a media empire encompassing multiple beloved properties such as Lookouts, Automata, and beloved D&D live-play series Acquisitions Incorporated. Penny Arcade was responsible for the creation of Child’s Play, a gaming charity that has raised over $45 million dollars for children across the world. They are also the founders of PAX, the number one consumer gaming festival in North America, with hundreds of thousands of loyal visitors every year.


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Hurco Companies Inc. News
Insider Trading Alert - NBIX, TPLM And HURC Traded By Insiders
Stocks with insider trader activity include NBIX, TPLM and HURC
Hurco Is Working on a Potentially Disruptive 3D Printing Product
Move over 3D Systems and Stratasys. A 46-year-old Hurco has filed a U.S. patent for what may be disruptive technology that combines 3D printing with your basic CNC machine.
Why Hurco Companies (HURC) Stock Is Surging Today
Hurco Companies (HURC) stock is soaring after it announced filing a U.S. patent application for new technology it believes could turn a CNC milling machine into a 3D printer.
Bank of America Lists Companies With Most Mentions of 'Supply Chain'
These companies made the most mentions of "supply chain" in their first-quarter earnings calls.
Crypto Crisis: Struggling Crypto Lender About to Be Acquired by Rival
Crypto firm Nexo is reviewing the assets of lender Vauld with the intent of acquiring the struggling crypto financial services company.
Ford Makes a Major Change
The legacy automaker has just made a decision that will affect consumers buying its electric vehicles via a lease.
Stock Market Today - 7/5: Stocks End Mixed On Recession Fears; Dollar Hits Two-Decade Peak
Stocks bounce back as tech stocks surge as investors focus on growth and inflation prospects in the world's biggest economy.


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The Last Of Us Remastered, the PlayStation 4 version of the highly successful game developed by Naughty Dog, is finally available in North America today and it finally become available in Europe in the next few days.
Online reports have confirmed that European gamers who have pre-ordered the game digitally on PSN can now pre-load the game so that they will be able to play it as soon as the official release date comes in. The download is going to be quite big, with 8GB alone for the multiplayer portion of the game so you better start downloading as quickly as possible so that you can enjoy the game as soon as the release date comes.
Even though the game has only been released officially today in North America, some lucky gamers have been able to get their hands on The Last Of Us Remastered last week. A new The Last Of Us Remastered unboxing video has been made available last week, which also confirmed that the game requires 50GB of free HDD space.
The Last Of Us Remastered is now available in North America exclusively on PlayStation 4. The game will be released later this week in Europe.


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According to the latest report from eMarketer, UK mobile advertising due to overtake the newspaper and magazine marketing by 2015*. Mobile ad spend is predicted to grow by 96% this year to £2.02bn in the UK, with experts anticipating this figure to reach £4.5bn by 2016. The report also forecasts that print advertising spend is likely to reduce, with the newspaper and magazine market set to lose £276m in the next 4 years.
Increased investment in mobile advertising has shifted expectations from advertisers. Agencies want to target their ads at the right audience. If publishers wish to compete effectively for advertisers, they need to understand how to use and embrace the data and information they possess.
Job board owners have an advantage here, attracting niche audiences and storing rich candidate data, they are able to provide advertisers with the opportunities to run targeted campaigns across their site.
However, what is most important to advertisers is that their ads are seen. If their adverts cannot be viewed on mobile or tablet devices they are losing access to a large share of their potential audience. Commentators have suggested that this shift in the ad market will mean that agencies are going to be less willing to work with publications who are not embracing the advertising potential of mobile optimised design.
Mobile design is not just about improving a site’s appearance or usability. Increased revenue potential is one of the key benefits of having a responsively designed website. A Media Briefing report recently noted that:
Having a mobile optimised site isn’t just about providing your audience with a nicer user experience…It’s also about viewability and the effect that has on your ad revenue.
The Media Briefing, June 2014**
Many of the trends we are seeing in the advertising industry are just as relevant – if not more so – in the job board sector. There are a number of advertising opportunities on a job board – standard job postings, featured/top job listings, banners, skyscrapers, MPUs, etc. However, if a job board is not optimised for mobile, many of these features will fail to carry down to a basic mobile website.
With nearly 43% of all job searches now being conducted via mobile devices***, advertisers on job boards are missing the opportunity to engage with this audience. This is where responsive design is transforming advertising potential for job board owners, as it allows for adverts to be displayed properly on any device.
A flexible, responsive design enables the page to adapt to any screen size, allowing premium adverts to retain their position within a site’s layout. For example, featured jobs will retain their position in a site’s hierarchy, listed ahead of standard listings. MPU’s also display in the appropriate place, with their size and scale maintained in the appropriate place.
The benefit of this is that advertisers are now able to reach 100% of a site’s audience -adverts and upsells are no longer exclusively for desktop. The number of impressions is increased and the viewability of an advert is greatly improved.
Madgex clients who have upgraded to our responsive platform are already using this to increase their revenue potential. Job boards can now sell their whole audience, with no need to differentiate by device.
The ability to offer advertisers a complete, rather than a partial audience share, has enabled many of them to increase their rates. This also gives them a significant advantage over their competitors who are unable to offer the same exposure.
The shift in the mobile advertisement market over the coming years will have an impact on the way advertising budgets are spent in the recruitment industry. With many publishers and job board owners are still unprepared for these changes (a recent report found up to 45% of publishers are still not mobile-ready), are you making the necessary steps to protect your revenue?* http://www.theguardian.com/med... ** http://www.themediabriefing.co... *** http://web.jobvite.com/rs/jobv...


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Texas Instruments’ Stock Falls
NEW YORK (AP) _ The stock of Texas Instruments Inc. fell Wednesday after the chip-maker narrowed its forecast for third-quarter earnings.
Texas Instruments said it expects third-quarter earnings of 20 cents to 22 cents a share, below its July estimate of 19 cents to 23 cents a share.
In narrowing its earnings forecast to the center, not the top, of previous expectations, the Dallas-based company disappointed analysts and investors who had expected a more robust forecast after Intel Corp. last week reported strong sales.
The shares closed down $1.90, or 7.5 percent, at $23.42 on the New York Stock Exchange.
The earnings estimate includes a contribution of 13 cents a share from the company’s previously announced sale of 24.7 million shares of Micron Technology Inc., as well as a charge of about $23 million for the company’s acquisition of Radia Communications Inc., which was completed July 30.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call were expecting third-quarter earnings, excluding items, of 9 cents a share.
Texas Instruments also forecast third-quarter revenue of $2.39 billion to $2.49 billion, compared with its previous forecast of $2.29 billion to $2.49 billion.
Analysts were calling for third-quarter revenue of $2.4 billion.
The company, which has 2002 revenue of $8.38 billion and is one of the world’s largest makers of computer chips, attributed the stronger revenue forecast to improved semiconductor sales.
Total revenue from semiconductors is now pegged at $1.99 billion to $2.07 billion, up from its previous range of $1.89 billion to $2.05 billion.
Separately Intergraph Corp. said Wednesday that Texas Instruments will pay it $18 million to settle a patent dispute.
Intergraph, a Huntsville, Ala., software and services company, said Texas Instruments had agreed to license three of Intergraph’s patents on parallel computing.
In April last year Intel Corp. agreed to pay Intergraph $300 million to settle similar claims.


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ReTech, a firm whose online systems are used to train McDonald's Chinese workers, will court Aussie investors with an ASX listing.
CBA's Dollarmites Club's dominance is facing a challenge from a new app that taps into pocket money to teach kids financial literacy.
Just 16 per cent of Americans think that a four-year college degree prepares students very well for a good job.
Australian start-up OpenLearning is the backbone for the Malaysian university system's ambitious plans for online learning.
Apple is releasing a free coding education app that will also nurture product loyalty.
Across college campuses in China, a small army of marketers is recruiting students to borrow money.
Andrew Bassat is adamant high levels of investment will deliver SEEK shareholders stronger growth in the long term.
One of the best ways to pass your commute or workout is with a business podcast.
Free online course from UNSW tells you how to succeed at being an entrepreneur.
Online learning programs are coming which will pique your interest when you start looking bored.
Leon Kamenev just spent $80 million buying several houses in Vaucluse. His latest venture is a mixture of altruism and commerce.
The richest people appreciate the power of learning long after any formal education is over.
Massive open online course provider Coursera has packaged new courses aimed at people wanting to move up in their careers.
AGSM's rebadged online MBA has won global recognition.
Queensland University of Technology is launching four free courses on big data with the UK-based massive open online course provider FutureLearn.
Class Central has a full list of free and low-cost online courses to boost your career, or to do for fun.
ANU and the University of Queensland are considering a revolutionary change.
Two top Beijing universities have put free Chinese courses for beginners online.
Australian universities are redoubling their efforts in free online education with nearly 50 courses currently on offer.
Learn the most effective strategies to find the job you want in this free online course.
The online Khan Academy provides a vast array of free lessons from biology to blockchain.
High-quality business courses are available online in massive open online courses.
Twenty innovators show that education entrepreneurship is alive and well in Australia.
Learn project management skills for free from this University of Adelaide online course.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is pushing for all kids to learn coding. But teachers are not yet up to the task.


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AUSTIN — Richard S. “Ricky” Dickson, the current President at Blue Bell Creameries, testified Wednesday as a government witness against his predecessor and one-time mentor, Paul Kruse.
Dickson took over from Kruse in 2017 at the Brenham, TX, company known for its flagship brand of Blue Bell ice creams.
He testified on the third day of Kruse’s jury trial for conspiracy and fraud charges stemming from a deadly 2015 listeriosis outbreak. Three people died in the outbreak, which sickened at least 10.
During the outbreak, which ended with Blue Bell shutting down its production facilities and recalling all its products, Dickson was Vice President of Sales and second in the company only to Kruse.
Under questioning from defense attorney Chris Flood of Houston, Dickson acknowledged that he was the subject of a “target” investigation by the federal Department of Justice beginning in 2019, two years after he became Blue Bell president.
He then obtained a personal attorney and worked out a “non-prosecution agreement” with the Department of Justice, including at least one session in Washington D.C. He said that “telling the truth” was his only obligation under the agreement.
Dickson is a Blue Bell veteran who held top sales and production jobs over four decades before moving into C-suite.
Dickson was vice president of sales during the 60-odd days cited in the indictment.
His testimony on Wednesday primarily consisted of claiming that Kruse and Kruse alone determined Blue Bell’s messaging during the outbreak. Blue Bell’s outbreak crisis began on Feb. 13, 2015, when two of 10 of its products tested positive for Listeria by South Carolina’s food lab.
Those products were produced in Brenham, TX, on a so-called gram machine in an area separate from primary ice creme production. Dickson claims he wanted an immediate recall, but Kruse opted for a “withdrawal” of the products that tested positive, eventually expanded to all products made on the gram machine.
Dickson said he went along: “This was brand new to me.”
In later testimony Wednesday, it came out that Kruse did report the South Carolina findings to FDA’s Reportable Food Registry and was likely working with the federal regulators from that point onward.
It is possible that the Kruse plan to dispatch Blue Bell’s 1,500 driver/salespeople to pick up the suspect products was at least shared with FDA ahead of time.
Dickson said he still considers Kruse a friend, and he acknowledged that when Kruse was a law student, he helped Dickson do an undergraduate study of Blue Bell.
As Blue Bell’s president, Dickson has expanded the company’s reach and sales along with its offerings of flavors.
However, he may be best known for settling the corporation’s criminal problems with the federal government.
Under Dickson, the company agreed to pay criminal penalties totaling $17.5 million and $2.1 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations regarding ice cream products manufactured under unsanitary conditions and sold to federal facilities, including the military.
The total $19.35 million in fines, forfeiture, and civil settlement payments was the second-largest amount to resolve a food safety matter.
In addition to Dickson, the prosecution called school district, hospital, and restaurant personnel who were Blue Bell customers in 2015 and were not satisfied by the explanations they were given for the project withdrawals. Most were told of “machine problems” or quality issues, but nothing about the Listeria investigation.
Those testifying said none of the patients, students, or customers became sick, but the experience caused them to terminate buying Blue Bell products.
The jury trial will complete its first week on Friday. The trial judge has warned the jury to plan for at least two more weeks.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)


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“Kate is known for her love of British designers, choosing Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen.
Gary says “the ball is in Tony’s court” however Tony insists he would by no.
Film producer Steve Bing, the ex-partner of Liz Hurley, took his personal life, a coroner.
When returning to branches, there will likely be a restrict on how many individuals can.
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Aldi are among the many shops which have launched new.
Banks, submit places of work and different open cash companies have been allowed to stay.
Statutory Sick Pay pays £95.85 per week to workers who’ve change into too sick to.
Emily Maitlis was notably absent from her function as Newsnight’s presenter on Wednesday after the.
Perspex screens have been put round until factors to guard staff and prospects and card.
The adjustments have been made to mirror the circumstances of consumers amid coronavirus. Tesco mentioned:.


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According to the latest AutoForecast Solutions assessment, European assembly plants suffered from a persistent shortage of microchips last week, even as the whole world received a reprieve.
In a new production forecast, AFS added about 98,900 vehicles to its global count of cars that were removed from automakers ’production schedules this year. So far in 2022, about 1.4 million cars have been driven out in addition to the 10.5 million cars lost in 2021, according to AFS.
European plants accounted for 97,600 increments. This year, they eliminated about 747,000 cars due to a global shortage of chips.
However, assembly plants in other parts of the world have observed relatively small violations related to chips. Only about 1,300 more cars were cut at North American factories, while no additional cuts were reported in Asia, South America, the Middle East and Africa.


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Attorneys general from 17 states are urging the federal government to recall millions of Kia and Hyundai cars due to a sharp increase in thefts prompted by a viral social media challenge. Videos circulating on TikTok have shown how people can start some Kia and Hyundai models with only a screwdriver and a USB cable, as the cars do not have engine immobilizers. This feature, standard on most cars, prevents the engine from starting unless the key is present.
In Los Angeles, thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars increased by around 85% in 2022, accounting for 20% of all car thefts in the city, according to the California attorney general’s office. These social media-inspired thefts have resulted in tragic consequences, with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributing 14 reported crashes and eight deaths to the stolen car trend. In October, police in Buffalo, New York, reported that a car crash that left four teenagers dead may have been linked to the TikTok challenge.
Attorneys general from 17 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, and New York, sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Thursday requesting a nationwide recall. The letter also called on the automakers to install engine immobilizers in the affected vehicles.
The pressure on South Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai is mounting, as multiple cities, including St. Louis, Cleveland, and San Diego, have already sued the automakers. The Highway Loss Data Institute reported in September that Kia and Hyundai cars without immobilizers had a vehicle theft claim rate of 2.18 per 1,000 insured vehicle years, compared to the industry rate of 1.21.
Kia and Hyundai announced in February that they would provide software updates for vehicles that require the key to be in the ignition switch to turn the car on. The change also updates the cars’ theft alarm software to extend the length of an alarm from 30 seconds to 1 minute. However, this service campaign is not a recall, which comes with reporting requirements and is closely monitored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains that the thefts involve criminal conduct under law enforcement’s jurisdiction. However, the agency has met with the automakers to discuss theft vulnerability as well as software and hardware in the affected models.
Hyundai has said that all models produced after November 1, 2021, have immobilizers as standard equipment. While the automakers maintain that their vehicles comply with federal safety standards, the mounting pressure on them may result in a recall being issued to prevent further accidents and deaths resulting from these viral social media challenges.


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SINCE opening in 2018, The Pop Up Kitchen in Lyme Regis has become a launchpad for some of the most successful restaurants in the area.
Now founder and owner Ali McLoughlin is serving up ‘feel good food’ with her new venture BABA.
Open Saturday to Tuesday each week, BABA will be serving up breakfasts, dinners and takeaways inspired by food from around the world, and in particular Turkish, Greek and Moroccan cuisine.
Ali first launched Dottie Kitchen in Lyme Regis eight years and went on to open The Pop Up Kitchen, inviting local chefs and producers to use the space to host events and show off their culinary talents.
Success stories stemming from The Pop Up Kitchen have so far included Harriet Mansell’s Robin Wylde and Lilac, Tom’s on Lyme Regis seafront, Goose & Badger now at the Soulshine Café in Bridport, The Strawberry Tree now open at the Town Mill, and The Monmouth Table who went on to open their own pantry next door – just to name a few!
Ali started serving her own food from around the globe in spring last year, but this was put on hold while she focussed on catering and helping the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now she is making a fresh start and has rebranded, with the help of Wes Dowell at Coastline Creative, as BABA, inspired by a childhood nickname for her daughter Ella.
Along with manager Emma Slater, who also runs her own business Jurassic Cottage Kitchen, Ali will be focussing on serving healthy, tasty, feel good food using free range and local ingredients, including organic lamb for her Greek-style kebabs.
The breakfast menu will be available for takeaway or delivery from 9am to 12noon on Saturdays and Sundays.
The main menu will then be available for takeaways from 12noon to 10pm Saturday to Tuesday, or you can sit in and enjoy the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of The Pop Up Kitchen from 6pm.
Pre-booking is advised for all takeaways and to sit in. For full details, visit the Facebook page facebook.com/BABAFeelGoodFood or the Pop Up Kitchen website www.thepopup.kitchen


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Buying UK shares to retire in comfort may not sound like an appealing idea to many investors after the market crash. After all, valuations across the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 have come under severe pressure due to a weak economic outlook.
However, buying high-quality UK shares now while they offer good value for money could be a shrewd move. You may benefit from the stock market’s likely recovery in the coming years.
With that in mind, here are two stocks that could be worth buying in an ISA today. They could help you to retire in comfort.
AstraZeneca: a defensive ally in a market crash
While many UK shares have struggled to post gains in 2020 due to the market crash, AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) share price has moved 8% higher since the start of the year. This may be due in part to its strong recent results. For example, in the first half of its financial year, the company grew its total revenue by 14%, while its core earnings per share moved 26% higher.
The prospects for the stock appear to be positive. Its investment in new drugs seems to be catalysing its financial performance. And, since its sales and profitability are less closely aligned to the economic outlook than many UK shares, it could offer defensive characteristics.
Given that there’s an ongoing threat of a second market crash, AstraZeneca’s growth potential in difficult economic conditions could increase demand for its shares. Although it trades on a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 27, its 27% earnings growth forecast for next year could mean it offers good value for money. As such, now could be the right time to buy a slice of it for the long run.
Morrisons: a FTSE 100 stock with long-term growth potential
Even though the Morrisons (LSE: MRW) share price is down 3% in 2020 as a result of the market crash, it’s held up better than many UK shares. Of course, rising demand for groceries has helped to strengthen its recent financial performance. For example, the company reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.7% in the first quarter of its financial year.
Looking ahead, Morrisons seems to be in a good position to maintain a relatively high rate of growth. For example, it’s rapidly expanding its online presence. This could allow it to capitalise on what may prove to be a permanent shift towards online grocery delivery or collection for many UK consumers.
Certainly, weak consumer confidence and a competitive marketplace could hold back Morrisons’ share price. It also faces the threat of a second market crash.
However, compared to most UK shares, it’s experiencing strong demand for its products. And, with a solid strategy, it could outperform the wider stock market in the coming years.
The post Stock market crash: 2 bargain UK shares I’d buy in an ISA today to retire in comfort appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.
- £3k to invest in an ISA? I'd buy crashing UK shares today to get rich and retire early
- Stock market crash: 2 cheap shares I'd buy today to get rich and retire early
- Forget gold and Bitcoin. I’d listen to Warren Buffett and buy cheap UK shares to get rich
- £10k to invest? I think following Buffett could help you achieve a 50% return
- Stock market crash: Just £100 a month could help you get rich from UK shares and retire early
- Top shares for 2020
Peter Stephens owns shares of AstraZeneca and Morrisons. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
Motley Fool UK 2020


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Over the last few months discussion surrounding digital privacy has risen to fever pitch. These issues were first brought to wide public attention after the first major privacy Apple update coded “nutrition label”. This required developers to give users a summary of how apps use their data. This was then followed by the controversial WhatsApp update that required its users to consent to their data being used across all applications under parent company Facebook. This includes Instagram, Facebook and Messenger.
More recently, Apple rolled out a new major privacy feature that will give iOS users more control on how their data is handled. The new iOS 14.5 update software update mandates app developers to ask their users’ permission to “track their activity across other companies ‘apps and websites”.
This is not a completely novel concept as some apps already offered such options to their users. Most however have those settings buried deep within their settings and this new update will certainly force them to reveal such to their users. It will mandate them to state exactly what kind of data they are collecting from their users (data used to track you and data linked to you). Also, once a user makes a choice, they can change their mind later in the settings.
This new update is a game changer in the tech industry and will further raise user awareness to privacy. Apple even posted a video explaining how exactly such apps collect and use data.” They collect thousands of information about you to create a digital profile they sell to others. These third parties use your profile to target you with ads, and they can use it to predict and influence your behaviors and decisions.”
Apple goes on to explain that this happens “without your knowledge or permission. Your information is for sale. You have become the product.”
Bad News for Ad Businesses
While this has been good news for Apple users who were increasingly getting worried about surveillance, it has not been good news for businesses that depend on ads to attract new customers to their websites.
The ad business is a multi-billion-dollar business and it works effectively because companies use their prospective customers data to generate ads. These are personalized so as to attract your attention better. This new update will give people the choice of opting out of this system and many are projected to do so. This means that ads will be less personalized and thus less effective.
Facebook was especially riled up about these changes which threaten to diminish their 25 billion-dollar ad revenue generator. Following the announcement Facebook went on to warn investors in August that Apple’s software changes could hurt its business if people start opting-out of tracking. In December Facebook took out ads in the Washington Post, New York Times and Wall Street Journal to explain how the change would “cause “devastating” harm to millions of small businesses that advertise on its platform, many of which are grappling with the fallout from the pandemic.”
While Facebook may have been trying to protect its bottom line, it is true that Apple’s move will definitely hurt small and medium sized businesses who rely on ads to generate new sales. Such businesses lack resources like analytics teams, growth hackers and engineers to generate new leads on their own.
Some are optimistic and wholeheartedly welcome the change. Daniel Barber, CEO of data management firm DataGrail is of the opinion that “Change spurs innovation, and I expect Facebook, ad-tech companies, and any other businesses impacted by this to find innovative new ways to communicate with their audiences.”


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Facebook's Oculus Insight VR tracking tech is the key to its future AR headset. Here’s why.
Facebook: Oculus Insight'>Expect Oculus Insight tracking in future wearable AR glasses
Facebook's Oculus Insight VR tracking tech is the key to its future AR headset - CNET
Built on the Rift Platform, the new VR headset combines the built-in Oculus Insight tracking technology with the power of your PC.
Facebook and Oculus may not see eye to eye about R&D spend for virtual reality. Interesting insight from @iansherr


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Revealed: the cities where it takes longest to sell
The weakest housing market conditions in any UK city are in Aberdeen, resulting from the fall in the oil price since 2015, according to Zoopla.
The property portal found that average home values are £46,969 lower in the city than they were in mid-2015, and it takes 15.5 weeks on average to sell.
The second slowest market is London, where residential properties now take 14.5 weeks to sell, over a month (5.3 weeks) longer than in 2016. Sellers in London are accepting offers from buyers that are on average 5.7% below their asking price.
In fact, time to sell across southern cities has accelerated, with homes taking an average of 11.6 weeks to sell, in comparison to just 7.4 weeks in 2016. Discount to asking price has also increased over the last three years from 1.7% to 3.8% in the south of England.
At the other end of the scale, the strongest market conditions are in Scotland, where a different system for sales transactions, makes for the fastest time to sell of all UK Cities. Specifically, homes in Glasgow and Edinburgh sell within five or six weeks. With property typically marketed as ‘offers over’, Glasgow and Edinburgh are also the only UK Cities not to register a discount, instead commanding an average of 6-7% above the asking price.
Rising employment levels and attractive affordability are boosting demand in cities across the Midlands and North of England, resulting in above average house price growth. The majority (75%) of UK Cities in these regions are registering an average time to sell of between 8.4 and 9.5 weeks, with sellers accepting the smallest discounts to asking price of 2 to 3%.
The list below shows the fastest and slowest cities when it comes to time taken to sell your home:
Edinburgh – 5.0 weeks
Glasgow – 5.8 weeks
Birmingham – 8.4 weeks
Nottingham – 8.5 weeks
Leeds – 8.5 weeks
Cardiff – 8.8 weeks
Leicester – 9.1 weeks
Manchester – 9.4 weeks
Sheffield – 9.5 weeks
Bristol – 10.0 weeks
>Liverpool – 10.2 weeks
Cambridge – 10.2 weeks
Portsmouth – 10.8 weeks
Southampton – 12.2 weeks
Newcastle – 12.6 weeks
Bournemouth – 13.0 weeks
Oxford – 14.1 weeks
London – 14.5 weeks
Aberdeen – 15.5 weeks
The time to sell a home across UK Cities hit a three year-high in September, taking 12 weeks on average, said Zoopla. Residential properties are taking nearly a month longer to sell than they did in 2016, with vendors accepting offers that are an average of 3.8% or £9,800 lower than the initial asking price.
Richard Donnell, research and insight director at Zoopla, said: “Market conditions are set to remain weak in southern cities until pricing levels adjust to what buyers are willing, or can afford, to pay. London is three years into a re-pricing process, and we expect sales volumes to slowly improve over 2020, while house price growth remains subdued.
“There are large parts of the country where housing affordability remains attractive, fuelled by continued economic growth that supports demand for homes, resulting in reasonable sales periods and only modest gaps between sales and asking prices.”


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Tag Sale at Glocca Morra 2020
The Tag Sale at Glocca Morra takes place February 24-27 as a part of the Ontario Holstein Annual Meeting. Bid off happens TODAY at 2pm EST.
Click HERE for the Tag Sale Price List!
Benefit Daughter Display lineup
View lot photos and info on Facebook …


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eBay Spent $26 Million Monthly on Google AdWords
Posted on 20th June, 2007
Last week eBay pulled all their campaigns from Google AdWords to protest a party planned by Google to promote Google Checkout that was coincide with the eBay Live event in Boston.
The eBayâ€™s event was overshadowed by Google planned to promote Google Checkout to eBay sellers who used PayPal.
Google said eBay has been refusing to offer Google Checkout as a payment option for sellers and buyers on eBay even after Google had been approached by power sellers to obtain access to Checkout.
When I read the story I wondered how much cash Google lost after eBay pulled their ads.
Greg Sterling of Search Engine Land has written an interesting post of how much traffic eBay received from Google and Google cash lost.
Without citing a source, Did-it’s Mark Simon says in this MediaPost piece that eBay spends — or used to spend — $26 million monthly on Google AdWords in the U.S. market. If true that’s $312 million annually.
I haven’t checked but I am certain thatâ€™s quite a large portion of ebay’s annual revenue.
Itâ€™s not too surprising to know Google sends the most traffic (organic and paid) to ebay.com (about 45.7% of their total traffic)
I am curious to see the outcome of their action and to what extent Google or eBay will suffer from this debacle.


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Game nights at World Tree Games are quieter than they were before the pandemic.
Business declined 30 percent during 2020, but the game shop still serves as a hub for locals to get their game on and business is consistently improving.
“We just got a bunch of new freshmen from Tech that are coming up, so we’re seeing a lot of new faces,” said shop owner Erin Kendall.
Kendall grew up in Socorro. After 19 years away, he moved back to his hometown and realized there still weren’t a lot of activities to keep kids busy and out of trouble.
“The bowling alley had just been torn down for the new MVD building and recreation for kids in Socorro was getting scarce,” said Kendall. “I wanted something for my kids, for my kids’ friends and for all the other kids in Socorro that don’t have sports, that don’t have anything else to do but to get in trouble.”
The original vision for the business was a geeky teen center, but Kendall knew he wouldn’t be able to pay the bills without a storefront.
“When I was in high school a game store opened up next to El Camino and it changed my life. Me and numerous friends were headed down paths that probably would have ended most of us up in jail.”
That comic and card shop opened around the same time that Magic the Gathering, the popular card game, was released and Kendall became a devoted player.
“I spent far too much time in that store, but it changed my life, it really did. I’m hoping that with my store I can change at least one life, that doesn’t take the path that I almost took, be it drugs, alcoholism or crime.”
He was also tired of driving to Albuquerque just to buy a pack of Magic cards or a comic book. Unfortunately, Kendall’s store no longer carries comics.
“Myself, I’m an avid comic book reader, so I’m sad to see that go away. We ended that in January of 2020. But my games always carried the comic book sales. It took me a long time of lying to myself that it was going to get better with the comics and it never did.”
Instead, the business has shifted to focus solely on games. Tabletop games like Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons, card games, cooperative games and even puzzles can be found on the shelves.
Although, Socorro doesn’t seem to care much for puzzles.
“I talked to game stores all over the country and people were saying they can’t keep puzzles on their shelves during the pandemic, that’s all people want is puzzles, puzzles, puzzles,” said Kendall. “So I brought in my puzzles. I think it took five months for them to get here because the company was so backed up. And they didn’t sell.”
Kendall’s happy to guide customers to a game that will match their interests.
“Some people don’t realize there’s a whole genre of cooperative board games,” he said. “People come in and they’re like,’ I like games but I don’t like conflict. What do you have?’ I have games that you work with your friends instead of against your friends. Then I also have games that were specifically designed to ruin friendships.”
Magic the Gathering and Warhammer are the two biggest sellers in Socorro. During the pandemic, Kendall also stocked more single-player and two-player games, as people who lived alone and couples came in asking for games they could play without gathering with people outside of their home.
“Gaming’s not just for geeks anymore,” said Kendall. “It’s become pretty mainstream. There’s far less stigma attached to it than there was even 10 years ago, much less when I was in school. I was teased mercilessly for my geeky interests.”
Kendall sees a wide variety of kids and adults come into his store. His customer base includes a lot of people from town, but business definitely slows down when NM Tech is on break.
“I’d like to see more and more people from more and more walks of life come in. Don’t think that just because we’ve got geeky stuff that you have to be a geek to come in. Everyone’s welcome.”


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Notes: Signed as nondrafted free agent by Padres, March 4, 1999
Traded to Pittsburgh in a four-player deal; Aug 26, 2003
Traded to NY Mets with Roberto Hernandez for Xavier Nady; July 31, 2006
Re-signed with NY Mets to a three-year deal worth $36 million; Feb. 2, 2009
Released by NY Mets; Mar. 21, 2011
Signed with Washington; Mar. 23, 2011
Signed with Seattle; Jan. 19, 2012
Re-signed with Seattle to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million; Nov. 3, 2012
Signed with Arizona to two-year deal worth $4.3 million; Mar. 10, 2014
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Apple's stock touched a new high Wednesday, reflecting investors' renewed faith in CEO Tim Cook's ability to outwit the competition and expand the technological hit factory built by the late Steve Jobs.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL -- (Marketwired) -- 03/21/14 -- Companies that pride themselves on being eco-friendly may have conflicted ideas between marketing with ad specialties and maintaining their green reputation. ...
NEW YORK (AP) -- It's hard to believe that in an age when people post about their kids from the time they're conceived until they grow up -- there are parents who don't want their kids' images online at all.


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Pottermore Reveals New Logo for Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
The upcoming Harry Potter: Wizards Unite mobile game from Pokemon Go developer Niantic has been pushed back to some time next year, it was announced Tuesday. It was originally slated to be released in 2018.
Pottermore, the official digital publisher of everything Harry Potter, made the announcement yesterday but also revealed the logo for the game in the same post. While it might seem a bit underwhelming at first, Pottermore did point out that the three wands that make up the letter ‘A’ in the word ‘Wizards’ actually belong to the Hogwarts trio, Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger. The wands are coming together in a burst of light, which suggests players will be able to work together to dole out some cool spells.
Pottermore said the silver lettering is purposefully scuffed “almost as if a ‘fantastic beast’ might have been trying to attack it.” The ‘S’ in ‘Wizards’ also looks similar to the ‘S’ in the Fantastic Beats movie. According to Pottermore, they believe the game will infuse elements from both Fantastic Beasts and Harry Potter.
Wizards Unite will be the second Potter game to be released under the new Portkey Games label. While the first game — Harry Potter: Hogwarts History — is a solo-based RPG of sorts, Wizards Unite will be similar to Niantic’s previous efforts, Ingress and Pokemon Go.
In its original announcement a year ago, Niantic confirmed the use of AR (augmented reality) in the game. “By exploring real-world neighborhoods and cities across the globe, players will go on adventures, learn and cast spells, discover mysterious artifacts, and encounter legendary beasts and iconic characters.”
Are you excited for a Pokemon Go-like Potter game? Let us know in the comments section down below.


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Colombia’s Caribbean coastal city of Santa Marta has been working to develop its own city brand as part of an initiative to boost local tourism.
Santa Marta’s Mayor Juan Pablo Diaz Granados and his office have been developing a local brand for three years in order to position the capital of Magdalena as a world-class international tourism destination.
A consultancy from 2009 concluded that Santa Marta is most recognized for its sun and beach, snow-topped Sierra Nevada mountain range, and El Morro island.
Miguel Angel Castaneda, creative director of the advertising agency Primer Dia, used this research to create the brand concept “World Destination, Everyone’s Destination.” It’s been presented to hotel industry, tourism, and business representatives in order to “sell Santa Marta as a premier international destination.”
However, some tourism representatives believe that there should be more thought put into the city’s marketing strategy, and wider consultation should take place – involving people outside the the tourism sector. Cotelco’s Magadalena Chapter President, Omar Garcia, said “[Santa Marta] needs the brand, but [it must be] agreed upon. If we don’t believe in Santa Marta, no one else will.” He warned that imposing an unfit brand on the city would be a serious mistake.
The city has previously adopted the slogan “The Magic of Having Everything,” which was used in promotional projects, but it didn’t stick.
“We want local and foreign tourists to know [Santa Marta’s] slogan, its logo, and that the city is a destination for them,” explained Claudia Santos, director of local tourism projects.
The initiative is part of the “Marketing Plan and Santa Marta’s Tourism Promotion” project, funded by the Tourism Promotion Fund of Colombia, Proexport, Santa Marta’s Mayor’s Office, Magdalena University, and Cotelco.


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County of Stettler approves $94,000 for new police vehicle
October 28, 2022 By Stu Salkeld, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Oct. 27, 2022, Stettler, Alta. – The County of Stettler council approved spending about $94,000 for a new police patrol vehicle after getting four offers from dealerships.
The decision was made at the Oct. 12 regular meeting of council.
Manager of Protective Services Clint Sime presented councillors with the results of a tender for a new special services vehicle and got offers from two local dealers and two Calgary dealers.
Aspen Ford Sales Ltd. offered a 2023 Ford F-150 Police 3.3L V6 pick-up truck for $58,661.36; Courtesy Chrysler offered a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab SSV 5.7L V8 Hemi for $52,430.50; Metro Ford Sales. Ltd. offered a 2023 Ford F-150 Police 3.3L V6 for $57,498.25; and Stettler Dodge Ltd. offered a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500 Crew Cab SSV 5.7L V8 Hemi priced at $45,804.15.
“In review it was noted that Dodge only offered 2022 models versus Ford offering 2023,” noted Sime in his memo to council. “The Ford F150 has a fuel tank capacity of 118 litres with an advertised fuel economy of 17 MPG city and 23 MPG on highway. Towing capacity on the F150 is 11,200 lbs. with ground clearance is 9.4 inches. In comparison, the Dodge Ram 1500 SSV has a fuel tank capacity is 121 litres with an advertised fuel economy of 15 MPG city and 21 MPG highway. Ground clearance on the Ram is 9.1 inches. The towing capacity of the Ram is 10,270 lbs.”
Sime pointed out Aspen Ford of Stettler offered a 2023 model while Stettler Dodge offered a 2022 model.
As Sime noted the Stettler Dodge offer was significantly lower, but that offer excluded several pieces of important equipment the police vehicle would need. After the HD flaps, larger fuel tank, anti-spin rear differential, 3.92 rear axle ratio and side steps were added the price would be about the same for both vehicles.
During discussion it was noted $40,000 had already been budgeted for this vehicle while another $40,000 would be allocated on Dec. 31 of this year, leaving about a $14,000 shortfall.
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Yvette Cassidy suggested councillors use the rural development fund for the $14,000.
Sime noted he’d like to do the purchase as soon as possible as it takes three to six months for delivery.
Coun. Dave Grover asked if all local dealerships had a chance to bid. Sime answered he personally hand-delivered information packages to every dealership in Stettler.
Coun. Justin Stevens, noting the police vehicle’s towing requirement, asked how often police vehicles use their towing capacity. Sime answered the special service vehicles may tow ATVs on a trailer or a boat but added that the special service vehicles end up being turned over to other county departments where the vehicle may be expected to tow something.
Reeve Larry Clarke asked what the difference was between a police vehicle and a normal vehicle. Sime answered that police vehicles usually have an upgraded transmission and suspension, upgraded wiring and some other kits.
Councillors unanimously approved by resolution that the County of Stettler purchase a 2023 F150 Police Special for Protective Services from Aspen Ford of Stettler for $58,661.36 and an estimated $35,943.48 for aftermarket options for a total purchase price of $94,604.84 including the additional options.
– East Central Alberta Review
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STUNNED staff at sofa firm Harveys Furniture say they were brought back from furlough – only to be told the next day the company had gone administration.
Workers at their Braehead store, near Glasgow, were among those told to return to work on Monday to prepare for the store reopening.
But they arrived this morning to be told the company was going into administration after bosses claimed coronavirus had “made a difficult situation even more challenging.”
The husband of one worker told The Scottish Sun: "It’s a disgrace. They’d have known before she came into work that the company would have been going into administration.
"But yet they made her spend the day preparing social distancing measures so the shop was safe.
"Workers have been in tears at the news."
The Sun has contacted Harveys parent company – Alteri Investors – for comment.
High street closures in 2020
HERE'S a round-up of some of the big names on the high street that have gone under this year:
- Department store chain Bealeswent into administration in January with 23 shops and 1,052 jobs at risk
- High end fashion brand Ted Baker said it plans to axe 160 jobs in February
- Brighthouse and Carluccio’swent into administration at the end of March
- Mobile phone retailer Carphone Warehouse said in March that it'll close all 531 standalone stores in April
- Debenhams entered administration for the second time in 12 months in April, and has since announced a number of store closures
- Struggling shoe shop Officeput itself up for sale in April 2020
- Oasis and Warehouse closed down in April 2020 with the loss of 1,800 jobs
- Cath Kidston closed all 60 shops in April 2020 with the loss of 900 jobs
- Clarks said in May 2020 that it would have to lose 900 roles as high street closures loom
- Shoe chain Aldo collapsed into administration in June 2020 with five stores permanently closed
- Victoria's Secrets plunged into administration in June 2020, putting 800 jobs at risk
- Fashion chain Quiz put its shop business into administration in June 2020, putting 82 stores at risk
Harveys is the latest retail casualty of the coronavirus crisis as high street stores fights to recover from lockdown.
Restructuring company Alteri has run Harveys and sister chain Bensons for Beds since November after taking them over from struggling South African retailer Steinhoff.
Bensons was also put into administration today, but it was bought out in a pre-arranged deal by Alteri.
Administrators PWC will keep trading Harveys stores in the hope someone will buy the firm.
Chief executive Mark Jackson wrote to staff in an email: “Like most other retailers the impact of coronavirus has, I’m afraid, made a difficult situation even more challenging.
“So, it is with heartfelt regret that I must tell you today that the group has taken the difficult decision to call upon administrators.”
High streets across the UK have taken a hit due to lockdown forcing non-essential retailers to close for three months.
Retailers only began reopening their doors this month, although they have been allowed to trade online throughout the crisis.
Experts at the Centre for Retail Research predict 20,000 stores will close this year, resulting in 235,000 job losses in the retail sector.
The pandemic has so far seen the collapse of Cath Kidston and Laura Ashley, while Debenhams has also been forced to call in administrators for the second time in 12 months.
Oasis and Warehouse have also turned into online only retailers after falling into administration.
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General Motors announced today an additional $332 million investment to support production of its new family of six-speed transmissions at its transmission plant here. This latest investment brings GM’s total spending on fuel-saving six-speed automatics to $1.7 billion in its U.S. operations since 2003. The investments support the company’s plans to build three million units of these transmissions annually by 2010.
"Raising the bar on the execution of new products is a critical part (...) > Full story
The new Hydra-Matic 6T70 and 6T75 front- and all-wheel drive six-speed automatic transmissions will debut in several GM models in 2007. The Saturn Aura and Pontiac G6 will offer the 6T70 as an option, and the 6T75, which is rated for higher torque capacity, will be standard in the Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave crossovers.
The 6T70/75’s clutch-to-clutch operation and 6.04:1 overall ratio help the transmissions deliver both performance and fuel economy, enabling up to 7 (...) > Full story
The state-of-the-art full hybrid system, whose components are being co-developed by General Motors Corp., DaimlerChrysler and the BMW Group for production beginning next year, represents a major automotive industry milestone due to the unprecedented fully integrated combination of electric motors with a fixed-gear transmission.
As a result of its low- and high-speed electric continuously variable transmission (ECVT) modes, the system is commonly referred to as the 2-mode hybrid. However, (...) > Full story
The GMC Division of General Motors today donated two 2007 GMC Yukons to Los Angeles and Las Vegas law enforcement as part of an initiative with the hit television series, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Working closely with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and the show’s writing staff and forensic consultants, GMC has designed and manufactured the "Mobile Analysis Unit" (MAU), a re-engineered 2007 GMC Yukon Denali. Elements of this unique collaboration include:
A (...) > Full story
GMC’s first large crossover vehicle, the all-new 2007 Acadia, will be one of the first products at General Motors Corp. to be built on the company’s new Lambda platform, which also will underpin the new Buick Enclave and Saturn Outlook. The ’07 Acadia will be introduced, along with the Outlook, in late 2006, with the Enclave to follow in spring 2007.
GM has not announced what engines will power the Acadia and its siblings, but executives say the Lambda platform can accommodate V-6 and V-8 (...) > Full story
An investor group led by affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), Five Mile Capital Partners, LLC, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners has completed the acquisition of a majority interest in GMAC Commercial Holding Corp. (GMACCH) from General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC).
GMAC, the wholly-owned financial services subsidiary of General Motors Corporation (GM: NYSE), sold 78 percent of its equity in GMACCH, up from the previously announced 60 percent target, in exchange (...) > Full story
General Motors Corp. , the United Auto Workers union and Delphi Corp. have reached an agreement to reduce the number of U.S. hourly employees through an accelerated attrition program. The agreement, which is an important contributor to GM’s turnaround plan in North America, is subject to approval of Delphi’s participation by the Bankruptcy Court.
The program is expected to be offered to U.S. hourly employees at GM and select UAW-represented members of Delphi’s hourly work force. It will (...) > Full story
General Motors Corp. announces the ’07 GMC Yukon SUV, which is on sale now, reportedly carries a base price of $34,690, some $890 less than the previous-generation ’06 model. Lower pricing on the all-new GMT900-based vehicles reflects GM’s effort to move closer to actual transaction levels and reduce incentive spending.
Premium trim-level Denali SUVs reportedly are set to go on sale shortly and will start at $47,990, a $2,070 drop from ’06 models. Long-wheelbase XL (...) > Full story
Many owners of new GM vehicles may remember 2006 as the last year they ever got lost while driving, thanks to Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar by GM.
OnStar Turn-by-Turn Navigation allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to customers’ vehicles through their OnStar system. Audio directions are then automatically piped through the vehicle’s stereo as they are (...) > Full story
With tons of dirt and a dose of speed, the corner of Paradise Road and Sahara Avenue will be transformed in spring of 2006 when General Motors opens the doors of “The Drive,” a unique hands-on driving experience that will be the first of its kind within the United States.
Featuring two professionally-designed driving courses – including a high performance loop and an off-road adventure over a dirt terrain – The Drive will provide a unique “autotainment” experience adjacent to the Las Vegas (...) > Full story


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NEW YORK (AP) — Fans of classic HBO shows like “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” will soon have access to those series and more through Amazon Prime in the first online streaming deal signed by the cable network. Starting on May 21, Amazon Prime members — who pay $99 a year for streaming entertainment, [...]
by Donte Hayden As the opening event of this year’s annual MCJR Week, the students of Norfolk State University witnessed history on April 7 as Curtis Symonds, formerly of ESPN and BET, launched what many consider a future powerhouse in television, the HBCUX network. The network includes programming which ranges from sports and entertainment to [...]
The Norfolk State University chapter of the National Broadcasting Society won the “On the Spot” competition at the national NBS-AERho convention in Los Angeles, CA on March 15th.


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Bleacher Report Expected To Exceed $200M In Revenue This Year
Bleacher Report is on a "path to make north" of $200M in revenue in '19, and CEO Howard Mittman said that total revenue for the WarnerMedia-owned publisher is up 49% year over year, according to Sahil Patel of DIGIDAY. Sources said that if BR "continues at its current growth trajectory of 49%, the publisher will surpass" $200M in annual revenue. Earlier this year, Mittman said that BR "makes four or five times the revenue the publisher made when it was acquired by Turner" in '12. Patel noted at a time when "other big digital publishers have had to cut back," BR is "expanding." The company plans to "continue to invest in more long-form video programming, commerce, events and other business areas." BR is "weaving in commerce with custom apparel and other merchandise that the company sells to fans both online and through its events." For the Women's World Cup, the publisher is "working with female artists to design nine unisex soccer jerseys, which people will be able to purchase on Bleacher Report's site." A BR spokesperson said that the company's commerce business is "still in its early stages, with revenue up 500% year over year." Mittman has said that one area BR "won't be expanding to is paid subscriptions -- beyond what's available through the B/R Live streaming service" (DIGIDAY.com, 6/10).


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Search For "cookstove"
Updated : 3 years, 10 months ago IST
Washington D.C. [USA], May 21 (ANI): A new study has found that adoption of common business practices like upgrading the supply chain, careful market analysis and discount can lead to increase purchase and adoption of improved cookstoves by 50 per cent in rural India.
Updated : 5 years, 7 months ago IST
Washington D.C, Jul 28 (ANI): The newer, more efficient, cleaner cookstoves, designed to reduce household air pollution that worsens climate change, have failed to deliver hoped-for benefits in the field, suggests a recent study.


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GPH Ispat Limited suffered losses for a second consecutive quarter this fiscal year, as huge foreign exchange losses and frequent power outages pushed up the cost of production although the steel manufacturer posted a decent revenue growth.
GPH, listed on the bourses in 2012, booked losses for the first time in the first quarter (Q1) of the FY '23 owing to sharp depreciation of local currency against the dollar.
However, the loss in the second quarter (Q2) is much lower than the first quarter (Q1).
According to the unaudited financial statements published on Wednesday, the steel manufacturer has registered a loss of Tk 55.88 million for October-December of the FY '23, as against a profit of Tk 499 million in the same quarter a year before.
In Q1 of FY '23, the company incurred a loss of Tk 794.07 million.
The cumulative loss in the first half (July-December) of this fiscal stood at Tk 849.95 million while it made a profit of Tk 949.4 million in the same period of FY '22.
The company saw its production costs jump 47 per cent to Tk 24.48 billion year-on-year in six months through December 2022.
Company Secretary Abu Bakar Siddique said the significant increase in foreign currency conversion rate, higher prices of raw materials and power supply disruption pushed up the production costs.
The company is also facing problems in opening letters of credit (LC) for import of raw materials due to dollar shortage in the country, said Mr Siddique, also an executive director of GPH.
The company's finance cost also soared 156 per cent year-on-year to Tk 2.6 billion in July-December 2022. The taka has been devalued more than 14 per cent against the greenback in six months through December 2022.
A foreign exchange gain or loss occurs when a company buys and/or sells goods and services in a foreign currency, and that currency fluctuates relative to the local currency.
The steel manufacturer's net revenue, however, rose 42 per cent year-on-year in the six months through December 2022, thanks to the increased production capacity following the completion of its expansion plant.
The new plant went into commercial production early this year, which was built using quantum technology -- the first of its kind in Asia and the second in the world -- at a cost of Tk 25 billion.
Presently, the annual production capacity of GPH Ispat is 1050,000 tonnes of billet and 790,000 tonnes of rod and medium section products.
The company saw its revenue go up after products from the new plant hit the market. The sales price per tonne has also increased, compared with the corresponding period last year.
The expanded production at the plant is expected to increase GPH's market share in the steel industry. But business could not reach the expected level due to foreign currency losses.
The company's net operating cash flow per share was negative Tk 2.21 for July-December 2022 as against Tk 0.82 for July-December 2021 as the payments to suppliers and others were higher than collection against sales proceeds.
In FY2022, GPH Ispat's profit dropped 18 per cent year-on-year to Tk 1.49 billion. It declared 5.50 per cent cash and 5.50 per cent stock dividends for the previous fiscal.
Its share price remained stuck at floor at Tk 44.80 since November 24 last year.
Incorporated in 2006, GPH Ispat is engaged in the manufacturing and trading of MS Billet and MS Rod. The company features a state-of-the-art laboratory to ensure the highest quality of the finished products.
Meanwhile, almost all the listed steelmakers, including leading one --Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills -- suffered losses in the first half of FY23 due to increase in foreign currency conversion rate.
The crisis has been intensified by frequent power outages caused by gas supply shortage. On top of that, the taka continued to lose value against the dollar, causing steel manufacturers to bleed.
Industry insiders say although the raw materials prices are cooling off in the global market in recent months from a record high, the steel manufacturers could not reap any benefit as most of them could not open letters of credit due to the dollar crisis.
The overall LC opening in the country slumped 14 per cent year-on-year in July-December of FY23 and the settlement declined 9 per cent, according to the data from the Bangladesh Bank.
There are about 40 active steel manufacturers with a combined capacity of producing more than 10 million tonnes of steel a year. The steel industry in Bangladesh is worth Tk 550 billion, according to the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association (BSMA).


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Google Maps: As a result of its collaboration with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Google said at the Google for India event on Thursday that its users will be able to purchase metro tickets via the Maps app.
Google Maps partners with ONDC
During the Google for India event, Google revealed that it will soon launch a feature that will allow users to book metro tickets via the Maps app, further solidifying its partnership with Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). Bikram Singh Bedi, Managing Director of Google Cloud India, stated that this service will be accessible through buyer apps rooted within the ONDC network and available in metro locations throughout India.
WhatsApp offers a similar feature
Lately, WhatsApp has begun offering users in Bengaluru and Delhi the ability to book similar metro tickets.
By means of agreements with the corresponding local metro train businesses, the Meta-owned app offers a complete ticket purchasing experience, including payment assistance.


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Following Western Digital’s September launch of two 20TB drives, Seagate has introduced two 20TB drives of its own: an Exos X20 and an IronWolf Pro, both transferring data 16MB/sec faster than the WD drives.
Seagate says these conventionally-recorded drives — meaning not HAMR — have enhanced caching and employ either 6Gbit/sec SATA (IronWolf Pro, Exos X20) or 12Gbit/sec SAS (Exos X20) interfaces. They have sustained data transfer rates of 285MB/sec compared to the WD pair’s 269MB/sec. That’s only a 5.9 per cent difference, but in an hour of continuous operation would mean the Seagate drives move 57.6GB more than the WD drives, and 1.38TB more in a day. Small differences can mount up.
Yet the Seagate drives only have a 256MB cache capacity, while WD’s 20TB pair are fitted with 512MB ones. It must be down to better caching software.
Like the WD drives, Seagate’s have a 4.16ms latency rating and, we understand, they are 9-platter drives — 2.222TB per platter — and helium-filled. Seagate says they have vibration control and security functions and do not employ shingling.
The Exos X20 is a 24×7 datacentre drive with a 550TB/year workload rating while the IronWolf Pro is a NAS drive with a user workload limit of 300TB/year. They differ in their mean time before failure (MTBF) rating as well. The Exos is a 2.5 million hour MTBF while the IronWolf Pro makes do with 1.1 million hours.
The WD Ultrastar DC HC560 20TB drive also has a workload rating of 550TB/year, as does, we understand, the 20TB Gold drive. WD hasn’t yet announced a 20TB NAS drive — that would be a Red Pro-branded product. Both of its 20TB drives — the Gold and the DC HC560 — are general datacentre drives, like Seagate’s Exos X20.
The 20TB Exos costs $670 while the 20TB Iron Wolf Pro will set you back $650, which includes three years of Rescue Data recovery. For comparison, WD’s 20TB Gold costs approximately $680 and the Ultrastar HC560 $700. These are not the prices volume buyers would pay, but on the face of it the Seagate drives deliver more performance for less money.
We can expect both Seagate and WD to spread their 20TB technology around their product portfolios with surveillance drives as an obvious possibility and, for WD, a NAS product. We might also expect Toshiba to announce its own non-shingled 20TB drive in the next few months.
We have no specific availability information for these two new Seagate drives.


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When going on a trip to China, don’t expect to be able use sites like Facebook, Twitter or even YouTube — those sites are all blocked by the Chinese mainland’s so-called “Great Firewall,” which is designed to keep out content that may go against China’s policies. Foreigners and even residents, however, have been able to circumvent this national firewall through the use of VPNs. But a new tool that is being used by the government could soon make that method unusable, leaving Internet users in China to see only what the government allows them to.
Several VPN providers are telling its customers that this new government tool can “learn, discover and block” traffic going through VPNs. But VPN blocking going on China isn’t new, as there were similar reports on crackdowns on VPN use back in 2011. Another provider has even told its customers that while they’re protocols are being blocked at the moment, “this blockage will be removed and things will go back to normal.”
At least one major ISP, China Unicom, is going as far as terminating any connection that is using a VPN — hardly a good sign. The problem with this current crackdown on VPN usage as opposed to the usual censoring or blocking of sites is that its not just the casual Internet user being affected, but businesses in China that rely on VPNs too. One executive in China tells the Global Times,
“You can’t block all VPNs without blocking businesses, including Chinese businesses. China wants businesses to put regional headquarters in China. It has these economic and business goals that are reliant on modern business infrastructure.”
It sounds like China’s Great Firewall is here to stay, and it’s only getting bigger.


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LONDON (Reuters) - German sports goods maker Adidas were named as the latest Tier One sponsor of the London 2012 Olympics at a glittering ceremony on Thursday.
“They are a perfect partner for us to share our common goals,” London Organising Committee (LOCOG) chairman Sebastian Coe said at the launch of the partnership which is worth 100 million pounds ($200.1 million).
Unlike the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) which is financed chiefly from public funds, the organizing committee must get its total budget of two billion pounds from the private sector, including sponsorship, broadcasting rights and merchandise.
“The team at LOCOG and I look forward to working with them over the next five years or so. One of our challenges as an organizing committee is to raise two billion pounds to stage the Games in 2012 and our commercial program is driving this,” added Coe.
American world sprint champions Tyson Gay and Allyson Felix were joined by several other high-profile names from the sporting world at the launch in a London nightclub. Former Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was also there.
Even LA Galaxy footballer David Beckham appeared briefly on stage, if only in hologram form.
Adidas chief executive Herbert Hainer said it was the biggest single investment the company had put into a British sporting event.
“We want to become the leading sportswear brand in the U.K., Europe’s largest sportswear market,” Hainer said.
“We will play a major role in what promises to be one of the best sporting events the world has ever seen.”
Adidas are the third Tier One partner for London 2012 after Lloyds TSB from the banking and insurance sector and EDF Energy from the utilities sector.
Further Tier One partners are expected to be announced before the end of the year from categories including oil and gas, automotive and airlines and Coe said they should all be in place before next year’s Beijing Games.
“That would be the first time a host city has done that,” Coe told reporters. “It’s not just about financial commitments, these are partners that bring levels of expertise.
“We are trying to communicate to young people and to have a global brand like Adidas at the table is a huge help to us.”
Adidas, who have worked with the British Olympic Association (BOA), since 1984, will provide specially designed kit for Team GB in 2012 as well as clothing for the 70,000 volunteers.
Additional reporting by Rachel Sanderson


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A US study listed 20 foods that are most likely to bring us into slavery food. And the traitor of the list is … pizza.
This research was conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and consists of two parts. The first é was conducted among a representative group of students, aged 18-23 years, the second with a wider group of individuals of 18-64 years.
And if the Final results of these two studies differ somewhat, foods that can make us dependent on them are clearly identified.
“They have many similarities with the classic addictive substances,” the study said. “They are more likely than other foods to cause a biological or behavioral reaction leading to addiction. These foods release substances called” loyalty “in the brain producing a sense of well-being.”
Dietary habits may vary by country. Yet most of us will agree on the fact that a slice of pizza (or two, or three) is good to taste at any time of day; that chocolate makes you happy; a packet of crisps (whether small or large) ends once begun; a packet of biscuits, once opened, rarely takes more than two hours …
We often say jokingly that these foods make us dependent. But according to the survey, they actually do. Not to mention that we do not even discuss sensitive subjects such as ice cream, sugary soft drinks and chips which is (almost) impossible to resist.
top 20 foods the most addictive
6. French fries
12. fried chicken
16. the candy and sweets


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Pressure mounting for UNIQLO to pay Indonesian workers compensation
The Indonesian factory closed without providing workers with US$10.8 million in legally required compensation. PT Jaba Garmindo entered bankruptcy in April 2015 without providing final wages and severance benefits to 4,000 workers at multiple locations.
Join the letter petition, and our demand that UNIQLO provide substantial financial contribution for workers of PT Jaba Garmindo. In addition, UNIQLO must commit to paying a living wage to workers across the supply chain and guarantee that workers in UNIQLO supplier factories have the right to safely organise.
The actions are supported by Clean Clothes Campaign, War on Want, People and Planet, SACOM, Globalization Monitor and Yokohama Action Research. Last week protests took place in Japan, targeting UNIQLO stores.
As this report details, the buyers have, to date, refused to make the workers whole. Failure to provide legally required severance pay is a very common form of wage theft in the garment industry; owners often simply abandon factories, leaving the country without making any arrangement for workers’ severance or payment to other creditors. Over the past five years, an increasing number of international apparel brands have taken responsibility for ensuring that these workers are paid, often by directly providing funds to workers.
Over the past decade, student and consumer pressure has successfully pushed international apparel brands to take responsibility for funds denied workers when their factories close. In a landmark case in 2013, after significant pressure from the CCC network, United Students Against Sweatshops, U.S. universities and SumOfUs, adidas directly compensated workers for legally required severance owed by a supplier factory in Indonesia. Since then, in response to demands by workers and international advocacy organizations, Disney, Fruit of the Loom, Hanesbrands, adidas, Nike, H&M, and Walmart have either directly compensated workers denied severance or required their supply chain partners to do so in Honduras, El Salvador, Indonesia, and Cambodia.
UNIQLO, your supplier - your responsibility!


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Giraffe bread hits the shelves! Sainsbury's officially changes name of tiger variety after three-year-old's letter goes viral
- Little Lily Robinson said loaf markings looked more like a giraffe than tiger
- Supermarket caves in to view after letter gets 150,000 'likes' on Facebook
They say the customer is always right.
But not many can claim to being so right they forced a supermarket to change one of its products.
Little Lily Robinson can, however, after the three-year-old got Sainsbury's to rename its tiger bread after writing a letter saying it looked more like the markings of a giraffe.
Consumer power: Loaves of the newly-named giraffe bread went on sale in Sainsbury's yesterday
Lily, who gave her age as '3½', fired off her comments to the company last May suggesting the name be altered.
She received a reply two weeks later from customer manager Chris King who wrote: ‘I think renaming tiger bread giraffe bread is a brilliant idea.
‘It looks much more like the blotches on a giraffe than the stripes on a tiger, doesn’t it?’
Misnomer moan: Lily Robinson's letter to Sainsbury's asking why tiger bread wasn't called giraffe bread
Understanding: This witty and friendly reply from Customer Manager Chris King won him a lot of praise
Viral: Lily's mother posted her daughter's letter and the response on this Facebook campaign page which went on to get more than 140,000 'likes'
He went on to explain that the bread had got its name because the first baker who made it a ‘looong time ago thought it looked stripey like a tiger.’
'Maybe they were a bit silly,’ he added before signing off with his age ’27 1/3’, just as Lily did.
The girl’s letter and the supermarket’s reply has now gone viral eight months later with over 150,000 ‘likes’ on Facebook after her mother posted them online.
Sainsbury’s last night said it had given in to popular demand and started selling the new loaves from yesterday.
What do you think? A look at these images makes it hard to disagree with Lily
A spokesman said: ‘In response to overwhelming customer feedback that our tiger bread has more resemblance to a giraffe, from today we will be changing our tiger bread to giraffe bread and seeing how that goes.’
The supermarket said that Mr King, who has been widely praised by Twitter and Facebook users for his impressive reply, has left the company and is training as a primary school teacher.
Tiger bread is typically made by brushing a rice paste onto the surface of a bloomer loaf prior to baking, with the pattern forming as the paste dries and cracks.
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